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Overview

The MCP Gateway operates in two modes, each optimized for different use cases. Choose the mode that best fits your needs.

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MCP Mode

Endpoint: https://app.apigene.ai/mcp/{genai_app}/mcp
Note: {genai_app} is the name of the agent or MCP that is configured in Apigene admin.

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Capabilities

MCP mode provides core action execution capabilities:
  • ✅ List and search actions
  • ✅ Execute single actions
  • ✅ Batch action execution
  • ✅ Parallel multi-action execution
  • ✅ Optional: MCP App UI tools (run_action_ui, run_multi_actions_ui) when UI features are enabled for your environment
  • ✅ Optional: Generative UI tools (show_generative_ui, template CRUD, show_generative_ui_from_template) when generative UI is enabled

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Use Cases

  • Simple API integrations
  • Direct action execution
  • Applications that don’t need agent features
  • Lightweight integrations

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Available Tools

  • list_actions
  • search_actions
  • run_action
  • run_action_batch
  • run_multi_actions
  • run_action_ui (when MCP App UI is enabled)
  • run_multi_actions_ui (when MCP App UI is enabled)
  • show_generative_ui (when generative UI is enabled)
  • list_generative_ui_templates (when generative UI is enabled)
  • create_generative_ui_template (when generative UI is enabled)
  • update_generative_ui_template (when generative UI is enabled)
  • get_generative_ui_template (when generative UI is enabled)
  • delete_generative_ui_template (when generative UI is enabled)
  • show_generative_ui_from_template (when generative UI is enabled)

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Agent Mode

Endpoint (live): https://app.apigene.ai/agent/{genai_app}/mcp Endpoint (design / draft): https://app.apigene.ai/agent/{genai_app}/design/mcp
Note: {genai_app} is the name of the agent or MCP that is configured in Apigene admin. Connect clients that should run the published agent to the live URL. The design URL reads and writes the unpublished draft until you publish.

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Design-mode vs live-mode tools

Agent mode tools fall into two groups. Live-mode tools stay available to anyone who can use the shared agent. Design-mode tools are authoring mutations: they are registered for the agent creator (typically on the design URL) and are hidden from other users in live MCP.

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Design-mode only (creator)

These tools are not available to viewers of a shared agent:

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Live mode (creator and viewers)

Everyone with access to the agent can list, read, search, and run:
  • Actions: list_actions, search_actions, run_action, run_action_batch, run_multi_actions, and UI variants when enabled
  • Agent: get_instructions, list_available_apps
  • Contexts: list_contexts, get_context, search_contexts
  • Skills: list_skills, get_skill, get_skill_content
  • Workflows: list_workflows, get_workflow, run_workflow, resume_workflow
  • Generative UI: list_generative_ui_templates, get_generative_ui_template, show_generative_ui_from_template
See the complete tool index for MCP vs Agent mode plus design vs live.

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Capabilities

Agent mode includes everything in MCP mode plus:
  • ✅ All MCP mode features
  • ✅ Access to agent instructions
  • ✅ Application discovery
  • ✅ Context management
  • ✅ Context creation and search
  • ✅ Agent Skills: list, fetch metadata/files, fetch SKILL.md content, and create skills
  • ✅ Agent Workflows: list/create/update/delete, run_workflow (with dry run), and resume_workflow for human approvals

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Use Cases

  • Full agent workflows
  • Applications needing context awareness
  • Complex multi-step operations
  • AI assistants with extended capabilities

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Available Tools

All MCP Mode Tools Plus:
  • get_instructions
  • list_available_apps
  • list_contexts
  • get_context
  • search_contexts
  • add_context
  • list_skills
  • get_skill
  • get_skill_content
  • add_skill
  • list_workflows
  • create_workflow
  • get_workflow
  • update_workflow
  • delete_workflow
  • run_workflow
  • resume_workflow

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Choosing the Right Mode

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Use MCP Mode When:

  • You only need basic action execution
  • You don’t need agent instructions
  • Context management isn’t required
  • You want a simpler integration

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Use Agent Mode When:

  • You need full agent capabilities
  • You want to access agent instructions
  • You need context management
  • You’re building AI assistants
  • You want complete workflow support

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Resources Available

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MCP Mode Resources

  • App Actions Template
  • Action Details Template
  • MCP App UI templates (ui://…) when MCP App UI is enabled

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Agent Mode Resources

  • Agent Instructions
  • Available Apps List
  • Contexts List
  • Context Type Definitions
  • Skills list, skill details, and skill content (apigene://…/skills — see resources)
  • App Actions Template
  • Action Details Template
  • Context Details Template
  • MCP App UI resources (ui://run-action-ui, ui://run-multi-actions-ui) when MCP App UI is enabled
  • Generative UI resource (ui://show-generative-ui) when generative UI is enabled

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Switching Between Modes

You can use both modes simultaneously by connecting to different endpoints. Each mode maintains its own session and capabilities.

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Next Steps